In the mid-1980s, a periodical anthology magazine of black & white sequential art appeared on newsstands, in bookstores, drug stores, gas stations, etc.
That was a cool concept. It would be hard to pin down my favorite. Several of the one-and-done stories were great. Of the episodic stories, I loved 5th to the 1st, and the one set in postapocalyptic L.A. where there were machinegun nests at street intersections and the heroes had a technical—a classic convertible with a Browning .50 if memory serves. I have to look at them again.
I remember that! The MAD MAX movies were huge then and very influential. If I'm not mistaken I also believe SAVAGE TALES is where THE NAM first appeared.
They were similar but The ‘Nam was a comic book and never was part of Savage Tales. The way I’ve heard it, the popularity of 5th to the 1st served (perhaps inadvertently) as a proof-of-viability for The ‘Nam. And the same creative team had the first run on The ‘Nam. I liked both. I believe I have all the issues from the first two years of that comic, though they may have been destroyed in the same flood that ruined most of my Marvel titles.
It's been awhile but I remember now; the 5th to the 7th - written by an actual Vietnam veteran: Larry Hama. Who also lent verisimilitude to G.I. JOE as well (with fellow Vietnam veteran artist Herb Trimpe). It reminds me of the early HOWLING COMMANDO titles where the credits read "Written by Sergeant Stan Lee//Illustrated by Private Jack Kirby" reading that a couple of World War Two veterans were telling us the story of the HOWLING COMMANDOS lent some serious "cred" to those tales as well. 'The Nam was great. I remember one issue had a G.I. reading a Steranko NICK FURY: AGENT OF SHIELD . . . talk about meta!!!
I appreciate the honest review - because with those names I’d get it automatically. I’ll probably get it anyway because I lack discipline.
LOL. I completely understand. I probably shouldn't admit that I own both Batman Forever and Batman & Robin on disk. And I'm not ashamed.
Really enjoyed this gritty dive into retro action comics! Your breakdown had me nodding along, especially about the pacing.
Thanks, Jon.
I LOVED Savage Tales. My favorite was a story written/drawn by Herb Trimpe of a group of post apocalyptic fliers. Too short-lived.
That was a cool concept. It would be hard to pin down my favorite. Several of the one-and-done stories were great. Of the episodic stories, I loved 5th to the 1st, and the one set in postapocalyptic L.A. where there were machinegun nests at street intersections and the heroes had a technical—a classic convertible with a Browning .50 if memory serves. I have to look at them again.
I remember that! The MAD MAX movies were huge then and very influential. If I'm not mistaken I also believe SAVAGE TALES is where THE NAM first appeared.
They were similar but The ‘Nam was a comic book and never was part of Savage Tales. The way I’ve heard it, the popularity of 5th to the 1st served (perhaps inadvertently) as a proof-of-viability for The ‘Nam. And the same creative team had the first run on The ‘Nam. I liked both. I believe I have all the issues from the first two years of that comic, though they may have been destroyed in the same flood that ruined most of my Marvel titles.
It's been awhile but I remember now; the 5th to the 7th - written by an actual Vietnam veteran: Larry Hama. Who also lent verisimilitude to G.I. JOE as well (with fellow Vietnam veteran artist Herb Trimpe). It reminds me of the early HOWLING COMMANDO titles where the credits read "Written by Sergeant Stan Lee//Illustrated by Private Jack Kirby" reading that a couple of World War Two veterans were telling us the story of the HOWLING COMMANDOS lent some serious "cred" to those tales as well. 'The Nam was great. I remember one issue had a G.I. reading a Steranko NICK FURY: AGENT OF SHIELD . . . talk about meta!!!